Opened on 1 January 1874 as the Sir Stuart Hogg Market, designed by Richard Roskell Bayne of the East Indian Railway in red brick Gothic, with a clock tower added in 1884. It was built for the British residents of Chowringhee and it still carries the trades they wanted: cold cuts, cheese, bakery, flowers, imported provisions.
A fire destroyed part of the original building in 1985 and the market now sprawls well beyond it. Inside, it is a maze of over two thousand stalls, and the porters who carry your shopping in cane baskets are part of how it works.
Inside the market
The sections, the shops and what each one sells| Name | Where | What is there |
|---|---|---|
| Nahoum & Sons1902 | F-20, New Market | A Jewish bakery in the original wooden cabinets; rich fruit cake, brownies, macaroons, cheese samosas. The December queue is a city event. |
| The meat and fish halls1874 | New Market | Cold cuts, sausage, poultry and river fish under the original roof. |
| The cheese counters | New Market | Bandel cheese — smoked and plain — alongside imported cheese. |
| The flower section | New Market | Cut flowers and arrangements. |
| Saree and handloom shops | New Market | Bengal weaves and silk. |
| Leather and bag stalls | New Market | Shoes, bags and belts. |
| Nizam’s1932 | Hogg Street, New Market | Where the kathi roll was invented. |
| Badshah1970s | New Market | The other roll counter. |
| Aminia1929 | New Market | Biryani and Mughlai. |
| The clock tower1884 | New Market | Added ten years after the market opened; the landmark of Lindsay Street. |
Worth knowing before you go
- Bargain everywhere except the established shops.
- The porters with cane baskets are a genuine service; agree a price first.
- December is the Christmas trade and the market is at its best and busiest.
- Sunday is quieter and many stalls are shut.
- Touts will attach themselves to you at the entrance. A firm no works.
The other markets
Read the city another way
A note on this page. Restaurants, shops and markets open, move and close far more often than industries do. Everything here is a snapshot of Kolkata as of 2026, offered as a starting point rather than a live listing. Check the address and the hours before you travel.
Restaurant, shop and company names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Inclusion is for independent discovery only, not endorsement, ranking or affiliation.
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